If you are unaware, there is currently an active security council proposal to liberate the region of Haven. If this proposal were to pass, it would result in Haven losing its password protection, and thus being open to being ‘invaded’ in the raider/defender game. Indeed, this is the stated purpose of the proposal. However, we believe that the passage of such a proposal would have further implications for the Roleplay community, and these must be taken into account by the Moderation staff.
Mallorea and Riva wrote:Disappointed that many regions have taken to cowering behind passwords for protection for long durations rather than acting to strengthen themselves,
Confident that a number of raiding organizations could utilize the region for far more interesting things than the current residents are choosing to,
As you can see, there is no smokescreen at work. This is an active attempt to force roleplay regions to partake in the raider/defender game against their will. It is a continuation of the stated belief that gameplay should take precedence over roleplay on NationStates. The statements made by Mallorea and Riva heavily imply that all nations should be subject to the raider defender game, regardless of whether or not they wish to be a part of it. Furthermore, this move to involuntarily strip a region (which has, mind you, expressly stated its intent to remain independent of the Raider/Defender metagame) of its password protection has, by Mallorea and Riva’s own admission, been undertaken purely on the basis of assumptions and without providing any concrete proof; let alone addressing the belief of many that even if such proof existed, it would not justify this action.
Despite the repeated statements by moderation that he is “just another player”, people will see Mallorea and Riva as a Moderator and his views as representative of those of the Moderation team; it has happened repeatedly throughout the thread in question already.
We would like to stress that Mallorea and Riva is going against not only official policy, but the express wishes of the Site Admin ([nation][violet][/nation]) and the designed intent of the Liberation gameplay feature (Source). It is the opinion of those Mentors undersigned, as well as many within and without the Roleplaying community, that this singling out of one specific aspect of the NationStates community is irresponsible, reckless, and unbecoming of one who was trusted with this site’s guidance and safekeeping. Additionally, this act has served to further the perceived gap between the interests of the Roleplay community and those of the official NationStates moderation staff. This can only serve to increase animosity between player and Moderator.
We, the Mentor team, were charged with being the pillars of and guiding the Roleplay community. We were appointed with the task of giving them a sympathetic ear and a helping hand, but now we find that we must also serve as their voice. In response to this event, we have decided to take a united and unmoving stance. Though we wish to continue the spirit of cooperation with the Moderation staff, we find we cannot stay silent in this matter. We want the NationStates community to be a cooperative and fun place to be, for everyone, but this means not forcing one viewpoint or system of gameplay upon the entire community. We have grown too large and too diverse for such an option to be viable, and the Moderators involved in this incident must take note of this fact.
It is the opinion of the Mentor team that the Moderation staff must take note of the Roleplay community’s vocal and numerous concerns with this abuse of position, whether they feel it be real or perceived. The Roleplay community, by and large, wants no part of the Raider/Defender game. Our region passwords exist for this reason. This situation must remain unchanged for the good of the site.
Thank you.
Signed,
The NS Mentor Team
- Kylarnatia
- Feazanthia
- Lubyak
- Maltropia
- Oseato
- Virana
- Lyras
- Nightkill the Emperor
- Lamoni
- Zarkenis Ultima
- Wagdog
- Xiscapia
- Cerillium
- Swith Witherward
and the following nations,
- Belfras
- The United Regions
- Sebtopiaris
- Somstratzka
- Liecthenbourg
- The Kraven Corporation
- Dorlania
- Montesardo-East Adanzi
- New Tsavon
- Onekawa-Nukanor
- The Republic of Lanos
- Valentir
- Lavan Tiri
- Burlington-Sverige
- The Kraven Corporation
- Bunkeranlage
- Grenartia
- Samozaryadnyastan
- Ardoki
- New Armarzia
- Mitheldalond
- Elke and Elba
- Tiami
- Tianzhu
- Hobbiest Republic
- The Remnants of Kobol
- Grand Russian Federation
- Padnak
- The Floating Island of the Sleeping God
- Ruridova
- The Vaktovian Empire
- Arthurista
- Darussalam
- New Visegrad
- The Jonathanian States
- Romic
- Somstratzka
- United Kingdom of Poland
- Soldati senza confini
- Gristol-Serkonos
- New Mushroom Kingdom
- The New World Oceania
- The Saint James Islands
- Voltrovia
- Wisconsin9
- Yasuragi
- The Serbian Empire
- Sebtopiaris
- Somstratzka
- Lykosia
- Crystal Spires
- Kouralia
- Genaritia
- Agritum
- Vedria
- Herrebrugh
- Old Tyrannia
- Purpelia
- Malgrave
- Rodrania
- Rupudska
- Constaniana
- Fordorsia
- The Archangel Conglomerate
- Bezombia
- Nude East Ireland
- The Order of the Teutonic Knights
- Esternial
- United Regions of Verona
- Victoriala
- New Babylonia
- Alebcay
- Geanna
- Thoricia
- Uiiop
- The Ionian State
- New Aerios
- Astrolinium
- Shalum
- New Zepuha
- Alimeria-
- Castille de Italia
- Lemmrod
- Calabarzon
- Legendardisch
- Aushanit
- The Ancient World
- Lynion
- Ulfr-Reich
- Great Confederacy Of Commonwealth States
- United States of Natan
- Vicious Debaters
- ONOCARCASS
- Bojikami
- The Templar High Council
- The Tiger Kingdom
- Landenburg
- Aeratia
- Oppressorion
P.S. This post is meant to ensure that members of the RPing community are made aware of the situation.
Please have some other links that are of relevance to this issue.
Discussion on RP Opt Out
Official Moderation Report on Haven SC Issue
Mallorea and Riva should resign
- Code: Select all
[color=#FF0000][b]Mallorea and Riva should [url=http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=303090]resign[/url][/b][/color]
If you wish to sign this letter, please post with the phrase "I wish to sign" to make searching up those who want their names added easier.
Scolopendra wrote:Delmonte wrote:We were essentially told that passwords WERE our opt-out and then, in the form of a pseudo-trolling by a Mod no less, we were told "Fuck you, they're not." We're being told that in order to not play the game we have to play the game. See what I mean?
Oh, I certainly do. This is part and parcel of my frustration: passwords have always been an imperfect opt-out and we spun them as though they are. We say "oh, RP and Gameplay are both equivalently valid and welcome and valuable methods to play" and the way regional mechanics work--are allowed to work--pretty much puts the lie to that.
I completely and understandably get the rage. From behind closed doors, I've reasoned, argued, cajoled, delivered, and shouted that rage to power for ten years.
Ten.
Years.
And this is where it's got us.
In all honesty, it's always been "in order to not play the game we have to play the game"--Gameplay is king; it's baked in right from the foundations up with how regional mechanics--not even capital-G Gameplay mechanics, just the bare-bones code--work. That's why that quote of mine that someone somewhere has in their sig has me saying that 'abusing the system is the game;' originally UN Delegates were just one step up from UN Members and regions had no controls, but people could move between them and they did, 'crashing' and 'camping' and 'squatting' and making themselves unwelcome. The Delegates were given regional controls to deal with the crashers/squatters/campers and then that meant that if the campers were UN Members themselves they could steal the Delegacy and kick everyone else out in regional griefing. We had to get elbows deep into ajudicating the difference between regional drama and for-the-lulz griefing, and that was horrendous, so we added Influence and Founders and passwords: Founders and passwords as something /like/ an opt out, and Influence to remove judgment calls regarding regional refounds. So of course Gameplay organizations used these tools themselves to build 'impenetrable' fortresses even as they figured out ways around the passwords by lurking and Founders by waiting for them to cease to exist. Liberations came up as a way to open up captured regions that were passworded, but of course, as we've all been made extremely aware as of late, that sword cuts two ways and can be used as a weapon of liberation or of violence depending on the whim of WA delegates and members.
Every single tool we've come up with to address the problem of--in my opinion--a certain level of interactional jerkery has only been incorporated into Gameplay, and TPTB dig that. They think it's cool and clever. I'll agree so far as it's clever.
So to bring my ramble back to full circle after the history lesson, the truth really is Gameplay uber alles; we've (the mods and admins) have only hidden that fact behind its implication in the code even while we say (and mean, in most cases) that everybody's equal and contributes value. We're as philosophically inconsistent as anyone else, especially when we think that we're trying to do the right thing. Fact of the matter is that, albeit without malice, you've been sold a bill of goods. We should come right out and say what the game mechanics prove: Gameplay takes precedence.
We don't, other than my occasional grumbling (someone found a link to where I admitted my opinion on R/D yonks ago) and we as mods-and-admin set ourselves up for this. This is the bed we've made, and if I've got anything to say about it (doubtful), we'll sleep in it because it's only fair.Constaniana wrote:Nothing personal. I'd be quoting the same thing if it was Nerv or Farn who said it.
It's less "taking it personally" and more "outside of context it almost looks like I approve, when the intended tone was a gritted-teeth grimace."
) I'll give my signature without hesitation
